Top Apps like Vine for Sharing Short Form Video

Back in the early 2010’s the popular trend of sharing short form videos on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter was booming.

Attention spans were shortening and these six second looping videos were all the rage. The platform behind these six second videos? Vine.

Considering the popularity of the platform, it came as a massive shock to the online world when Twitter, who had since acquired Vine, announced in 2016 that they were going to disable all new uploads to the platform.

While users could still access the historical database of uploads for another year, the Vine era was over.

As mentioned, Vine was incredibly popular so it was inevitable that replacements were going to be launched.

In this article, we are going to look at the best apps out there which offer a similar service to Vine and tell you a little bit about each one. Let’s get started.

Apps like Vine – The top 7

TikTok

Without a doubt, the most popular video-based social media platform to have been launched since Vine disappeared off the face the earth is TikTok.

Though there are a few TikTok competitors like Triller, it’s by far the most popular option for the short video format.

While TikTok allows videos uploaded to their platform to be much longer than what was allowed on Vine, the videos found on the app are typically less than a minute in length despite there now being a relatively large ten minute limit on all uploads.

The beauty of TikTok revolves around its algorithm, or what users on the app will know as the ‘for you page’.

TikTok gathers an idea of what content you like based on what you have liked, commented on, or shared in the past. In fact, they even take into consideration how long users stay on particular videos for.

For example, if you are seen to be interacting with videos relating to Star Wars, then your ‘for you page’ will start showing you Star Wars videos more regularly.

This means that there is actually no need to ‘follow’ your favourite accounts, because the app will figure out your favourite accounts, and those similar, for you.

Another cool feature of TikTok is that it allows users to go ‘live’ on the app, in a similar way to how users can on Instagram.

This adds a new dimension to the app that Vine never had, and this lack of evolution is potentially what resulted in Vine’s success being so short lived.

It will be interesting to see how TikTok continues to evolve in the coming years as it bids to keep alive its soaring popularity.

Huddles

It’s only fair that we give Huddles a mention here as it was created by Dom Hofmann, who was actually a co-founder of the original Vine.

And like Vine, Huddles is a short form video app made for sharing short videos that are less than 16 seconds long.

Though it’s a popular app in its own right, it’s not taken off like Vine did. This may be because the app was acquired and then merged into another – it was originally called Byte, and then Clash, but now it’s called Huddles. By the time this article is published, it’ll probably be called something else.

Anyway, the app itself is pretty solid for video loops and publishing new videos, and it would make a great alternative to Vine. But like any social media, it’s only as popular as its influencers, and Huddles hasn’t taken off quite yet.

Giphy

If you are looking for short, snappy and humorous video clips then Giphy is the place for you.

Historically, the main difference between Giphy and Vine is the fact that Vine’s videos included Audio, while Giphy’s videos didn’t, typically using subtitled text on videos where necessary.

However, in recent times the app has started to include compatibility which allows audio within their clips, making it even more similar to Vine in the process.

While everyone is able to use Giphy without having to sign up to an account, it is beneficial to get an account because it allows users to create their own GIFs, save their favourites and make collections.

Once you’re in the app, whether anonymously or on your registered account, you are free to browse the app and watch all of the short video clips (otherwise known as GIFs) stored on there.

Typically, these GIFs are used on social media websites such as Facebook and Instagram, or within messaging apps. They are often used to create humour or to make a certain point.

In order to search for a video clip/GIF within the app, you are best off hitting the search icon on the bottom menu bar and searching for the video theme that you’re looking for.

Each clip on the app is saved with various tags all relating to what the video is about so by using the search function you are bound to find something useful to you.

Alternatively, you can just flick through the app’s home screen which contains various categories, including ‘trending’, ‘stories’, ‘stickers’ and so on.

While this functionality won’t be much use to you if you have downloaded the app in order to find something specific, it can provide you with some light-hearted, comedic relief to an otherwise boring afternoon.

Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels is a feature within the Instagram app that allows users to create, discover, and share 15-second to 60-second video clips set to music or other audio.

Introduced in 2020, Reels is Instagram’s response to the rising popularity of short-form video content platforms like TikTok. Here are some key points about Reels:

1. Video Length: Originally, Reels started with a 15-second maximum for videos, but this was later extended to 60 seconds as the feature evolved.
2. Editing Tools: Reels offers a variety of creative tools, including audio (where you can select a song from the Instagram music library or use your own audio), AR effects, timer, countdown, align (for smooth transitions), and speed controls.
3. Discovery: Unlike regular Instagram Stories, which are primarily visible to your followers, Reels can be discovered by the wider Instagram community through the Explore page, offering creators a chance to reach a broader audience.
4. Dedicated Feed: Reels has its own dedicated Feed in the Explore section of Instagram, where users can scroll through an endless feed of short videos from various creators.
5. Posting: Reels can be shared to your Feed, Stories, and the new Reels tab on a user’s profile. When shared to the Explore section, it has the potential to be seen and discovered by the wider Instagram community.
6. Monetization: As Instagram Reels grew in popularity, Instagram started to explore ways for creators to monetize their content, similar to other platforms.

The introduction of Reels is one of Instagram’s strategies to retain users and adapt to the changing dynamics of social media, where short-form video content has become increasingly popular.

Snapchat

Snapchat is a multimedia messaging app used globally. It was created by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown and was launched in 2011.

Snapchat is unique in that pictures and messages sent through the app are only available for a short time before they become inaccessible to their recipients.

Here are some key features and points about Snapchat:

1. Snaps: The core feature of Snapchat. Users can take photos or short videos, add text, drawings, and filters, and then send these “snaps” to friends. Once viewed, snaps disappear after a few seconds.
2. Stories: Introduced later, this feature allows users to compile snaps into a “story” that can be viewed by friends for 24 hours.
3. Discover: A feature where users can watch stories from different editorial teams, such as BuzzFeed, CNN, MTV, and more. It’s a mix of user-generated and professionally curated content.
4. Filters & Lenses: Snapchat offers various dynamic overlays for photos and videos. Lenses, in particular, are real-time special effects added to snaps taken using the front camera – like the famous “dog” or “face swap” lenses.
5. Snap Map: Allows users to share their location and see where their friends are in real time, as well as explore stories from other Snapchat users around the world.
6. Bitmoji: With the acquisition of Bitstrips, Snapchat integrated Bitmoji into its platform, allowing users to create personalized avatars and stickers.
7. Chat: Apart from sending snaps, users can also chat with friends, which can include text, snaps, voice calls, and video calls. Messages in chat also disappear after being viewed.
8. Memories: A feature that lets users save their snaps and stories to a private storage area, allowing them to view or re-share them later.
9. Snap Originals: Exclusive shows and content produced by Snapchat’s in-house team or collaborators, available only on the Snapchat platform.
10. Privacy: Snapchat’s main selling point, especially in its early days, was the ephemeral nature of its content. Snaps and chats would disappear after being viewed, giving a sense of privacy and spontaneity to interactions on the platform.

Over the years, Snapchat has evolved to offer more features and improve user engagement, and it remains especially popular among younger demographics.

However, it’s also faced competition from platforms like Instagram, which introduced its own “Stories” feature inspired by Snapchat.

Triller

Triller is a US-based social media application designed for creating and sharing short music videos.

Launched in 2015, Triller positions itself as a competitor to platforms like TikTok. Here are some features and points about Triller:

1. Music Video Creation: Triller’s main feature is to allow users to create music-backed videos. Users can pick a song from the app’s extensive library, record themselves, and Triller will automatically stitch clips together using its proprietary algorithm to create a music video.
2. Social Feed: Similar to other social platforms, Triller offers a feed where users can watch videos from the people they follow, as well as discover trending content.
3. Editing Tools: Triller provides a range of video editing tools, allowing users to create professional-looking music videos with filters, drawings, and text.
4. Collaborations: Users can collaborate with friends on a video, even if they’re not in the same location.
5. Music Integration: Triller has partnerships with major music labels, offering a vast selection of tracks for users to incorporate into their videos.
6. Monetization: One of Triller’s differentiators is its focus on allowing creators to monetize their content. The platform has mechanisms in place for users to earn revenue from their videos.
7. Events and Battles: Triller occasionally hosts music video creation contests and challenges, known as “Triller Battles,” where users can compete for prizes.
8. Promotion of Artists: Triller is also known for promoting music artists and has been used by several celebrities and musicians to premiere their songs or albums.

Triller has positioned itself as an alternative to other short-form video apps, focusing on music video creation and offering more tools for content monetization.

As with any social platform, its prominence and user base can shift over time in the competitive landscape of social media apps.

Coub

Coub is the final platform that we’d like to discuss and the one that is most like a complete replica of Vine.

Coub is all about taking existing videos, trimming them to a maximum length of ten seconds, adding in after effects such as music to overlay the video, and setting them to loop over and over again. So, yeah, it’s basically Vine but with four seconds extra length available to you.

The platform isn’t only an editing software like we’ve just described, but also a place where you can access other people’s trimmed videos and share them across social media platforms if you particularly enjoy them.

To use Coub, users don’t need to have an account meaning you are free to browse the app and save videos, however, you will need to sign up in order to create your own.

To complete the creation process, users need to select the ‘create’ button on the website’s home screen.

From there, you will then need to either paste a video link from elsewhere on the internet like YouTube or upload a video from your device.

Once selected, you will then have to use the trimming tool to select the section of the video which you would like to keep.

After that, you can select whether you want the video to loop or not, add in music and add in other sounds. Hit save and then your video will be ready to share across the internet.

Vero

Vero is a social media platform that differentiates itself from other social networks by emphasizing privacy and a no-advertisement policy.

Launched in 2015, Vero aims to provide a more authentic social experience compared to traditional social media apps.

It does not track user data for advertising purposes, ensuring a more private and personalized user experience.

This approach appeals to users who are concerned about privacy and the pervasive nature of targeted ads on social media.

Vero’s interface is designed to be user-friendly, focusing on sharing content like photos, links, music, movies, books, and places.

One of the unique features of Vero is its content display algorithm. Unlike many social media platforms that use complex algorithms to determine what content appears in a user’s feed, Vero displays posts in chronological order.

This feature is intended to enhance the authenticity of the user experience, making it more transparent and straightforward.

Furthermore, Vero offers a subscription-based model, which is part of its commitment to remain ad-free.

The platform encourages natural engagement by removing the typical pressures of post likes and views, commonly found in other social networks.

By prioritizing user experience over ad revenue, Vero aims to create a more genuine online social environment.

Conclusion

Considering Vine was discontinued while being a popular platform, it is no surprise that there are now many strong alternatives out there.

The four mentioned in this article are all unique in their own way and well worth a download in their own right. In fact, you could download all four and enjoy different experiences across all of them.